Overview

• The Federal Court of Justice (BGH) ruled that car wash operators are responsible for damages caused to vehicles with factory-standard parts during the washing process.
• The case involved a Range Rover whose rear spoiler, part of its standard equipment, was damaged in a car wash in North Rhine-Westphalia.
• The court ordered the operator to pay €3,200 in damages, rejecting claims that warning signs absolved responsibility.
• The ruling emphasized that drivers have the right to expect their factory-standard vehicles to exit car washes undamaged.
• This decision overturns a prior ruling by the Münster Regional Court, which had initially sided with the car wash operator.